According to the FDA, Truvada treatment will cost nearly $14,000 annually

A drug used to prevent HIV infection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today.

The drug is called Truvada, and it was developed by Gilead Sciences in California. The pill is to be used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) along with regular HIV testing and safe sex.

According to trial results, Truvada successfully reduced the risk of HIV infection by 42 percent in HIV-negative volunteers that had sex with several partners -- including those who were HIV-positive. In heterosexual partners where one person was infected, but used condoms during each sexual encounter, Truvada cut the risk of infection by 75 percent.

"Today's approval marks an important milestone in our fight against HIV," said Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA Commissioner. "Every year, about 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with HIV infection, despite the availability of prevention methods and strategies to educate, test and care for people living with the disease."

Previously, Truvada was approved to be used with other antiretroviral drugs. Today's approval allows the drug to be used alone, except with non-drug related combinations like safe sex.

Some side effects experienced by those using Truvada were nausea, diarrhea, headache, weight loss, kidney problems, abdominal pain and bone toxicity.

According to the FDA, Truvada treatment will cost nearly $14,000 annually.

Earlier this month, the FDA approved a HIV home test quick called OraQuick, which was created by a company called OraSure. The test can be taken at home, and provides results in about 30 minutes. The test is meant for those who do not have access to a doctor.

A gay college buddy of mine lives in SF and was on the trial for this. The test groups aren't intentionally subjected to danger, as many people take care of that aspect themselves.

Case in point, he had a scare once after having unprotected sex with a fling after the guy called him up a few weeks later to tell him he tested positive for HIV. My friend freaked out and went in to get tested 6 times over a 4 month period. He was on a drug like this because he was part of a 5-year-long study group, and to date, hasn't been diagnosed with HIV.

He didn't have unprotected sex because he was on this drug, since he almost always uses a condom, but for whatever reason he didn't this one time, I don't know why, he didn't tell me, but being in this study group probably saved his life.